Waistband for nether garments



13.85-15.11. LEWIS. WAISTBAND FOR NETHBR GARMEN-TS.

(No Model.)

,PatentedOcL 27, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

STEPHEN B. LEW'IS AND FRANKLIN F. LEVIS, OF JANESVILLF, VISCONSIN.

WAISTBAN D FO R ETH ER GARNI ENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,317, dated October 27, 1896.

Application ledApril 2,1895. Serial No. 544,190. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, STEPHEN B. LEWIS and FRANKLIN F. LEwIs, citizens of the United States, and residents of Janesville, in the county of Rock and State of Tisconsim have invented certain new and useful Improve- Y ments in Waistbands for Trousers and lDrawers; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is a view showing one form of invention. Fig. 2 is aview showing a different adjustment of saine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing invention; Fig. 4. is a detail view of connecting-strap or gusset, and Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views showing different modifications.

The object of this invention is to provide a waistband for trousers and drawers having at the back means for its adjustment which are more convenient and less clumsy, bulky, and unsightly than the means heretofore employed. As commonly made, the band is in two sections, meeting at the back, with a strap sewed upon each in such a manner that a buckle being attached to one of the straps, the other strap can be drawn into the buckle and the desired adjustment made. In the better grades of underwear, where such a buckle is undesirable, what is known as the Frervigqlistraps is commonly employed, each section of the band having a strap which fastens onto a button of the opposite section, or the straps are dispensed with and `the two parts of the bandare united by lacing-strings, a gusset being set in between the bands. This is known as the English drawer-back.

Our invention differs from all of the above methods of 'construction in that we employ a single strap or gusset, which is either permanently or removably fastened to, or integral with, one of the band-sections at the back, and which is provided with a series of sets of buttons or like fastening devices for adjustable connection with one or both of the sections.

rIhe invention also consists in the novel construction an d combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letters A and B designate the respective band-sections, which are stitched to the Inaterial of the garment C.

D designates our improved connectingstrap or gusset, which, in the preferred form of the invention, Figs. l, 2, and 3, has one end portion inserted between the band portion B and the garment C and is permanently secured therein by the lines of stitching c d b b. To receive this end portion of the strap, the portion B is at first left unstitched from the garment, except at the upper and lower edges, and the portion A is also leftunstitched in a similar manner to form a pocket or slip to receive the free end of the said strap, which is provided with two or more vertical rows or sets of buttons E E', as may be desired. To receive either setof these buttons, the band portion A has theupper and lower buttonholes F F. If. preferred, the strap or gusset may have the buttonholes and the band-sections the buttons.

By changing the band A from the buttons E to the buttons E', or reversely, the length of the band may be increased or shortened to the extent of the distance between the two sets of buttons, while if more than two sets are used a still greater range of adjustment is provided for. An intermediate adjustment may be made by buttoning the band A to the lower button E and to theupper button E.

In lieu of permanently securing one end of the strap to the band B, as above described, this end may be connected with the band by buttons G, in the same manner as at the opposite end and as shown in Fig. 5. The adjustment may then be made from either or both sides.

Instead of placing the strap between the bands and the material of the garment it may be arranged upon either the outside or the inside of the band portion and button thereto. (See Figs. 6 and 7.)

In some instances it may be prefer-red to make the strap or gusset continuous with or integral with one of the band-sections. (See Fig. 8.)

Ve also propose to employ two of the straps,

IOO

one above thc other, as shown in Fig. 9, when desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a garment, the combination with a divided waistband the approximated end portions of which are provided, one orboth, with fastening appliances,of a short strap or gusset fastened to one of said end portions, and having thereon independent sets of fastening devices, each set of such devices being arranged to coact with the fastening device of the other of said end portions,whereloy the length of the waistband may be adjusted, substantially as specified.

2. In a garment, the combination with a waistband portion divided at the back, and having at its end portions, between its thicknesses, slips or pockets which open toward each other, of a short strap or gusset whose end portions are arranged to be inserted in said slips or pockets, and fastening devices for adj ustably securing said strap or gusset therein, substantially as specified.

3. In a garment, the combination with a waistband divided at the back and left unstitched at the end portions, except at the upper and lower edges, whereby pockets or slips are formed between the band and the material of the garment, of a single connectingstrap having its end portions inserted in said pockets or slips, and means for connecting said strap adj ustably to the waistband-sections, substantially as specified.

4. In a garment, a divided waistband having its meeting end portions unstitched from the material of the garment except at the upper and lower edge portions, whereby slips or pockets are formed between the band-sections and the material of the garment, and a strap or gusset having one end portion inserted and permanently secured in the slip or pocket at one side and its opposite end portion inserted in the slip or pocket at the opposite side, said strap or gusset having independent sets of fastening devices each set of which is arranged to engage complementary fastening devices of the band, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN B. LEWIS. FRANKLIN F. LEWIS. Titnessesr SILAs IIAYNER, A. E. SHUMWAY. 

